A SERIES of crimes fell apart for an alleged burglar when he crashed a car stolen from Kāwhia through a gate, into a ute and finally a tree in Parawera before being chased on foot by his victims.
A 34-year-old Auckland man is in custody waiting to appear in Pukekohe District Court on charges relating to the incidents.
Police allege the man broke into a garage on Kāwhia Rd on New Year’s Eve and stole two blue Yamaha 110cc children’s motorcycles.
A chain securing the two bikes was cut with a cordless angle grinder, which was left at the scene.
A 1997 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado was also stolen from the house.
Another vehicle used by the man to travel to the scene was set on fire at the house.
Three days later on January 3, the owner of an Arapuni Rd, Parawera farm returned home with his family to find a vehicle parked at a back shed.
It was the same Prado stolen from Kāwhia.
The man had allegedly driven through a wooden gate and around to the rear of the property, where he took power tools, petrol canisters and a trailer was hooked up to the Prado.
When he was discovered, the man allegedly drove away, crashing into a ute belonging to the family and then into a tree.
The man ran off on foot but was chased by the farmer’s sons, who caught him at a nearby property.
He was walked back to the farm, where he was arrested by police and charged with burglary, driving dangerously and unlawful taking of a motor vehicle.
